I refer to the front page news article Extremists are a threat to us all, Clinton says (January 11). As an esteemed representative of the US, I'm surprised that the secretary of state Hillary Clinton got it so wrong on Jared Lee Loughner, the Tucson shooter of the congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. She stretches credibility when she equates a confused and twisted man with organised and intelligible, albeit misguided, ideologies - be they al Qa'eda or the White Aryan Resistance.
She was right when she said that he was an extremist in that he was extremely sick in the head. But "extremist" implies he was an ideological outlier on a political spectrum. Politics actually doesn't matter given the overwhelmingly insane nature of the actual motivation for assassinating the congresswoman Giffords.
Ted Baxter, Abu Dhabi
The recent shooting of Gabrielle Giffords along with the deaths of six other innocents in Arizona demonstrates just what can happen when a sizable, uneducated and unenlightened group such as the Tea Party movement calls for blood. Call the opposition communists, feed the masses who don't want a black man as president of your country with hatred, lies and prejudice, show rifle crosshairs in your election literature, talk about "gunning" for the Tea Party, repeat firearms analogies and hold weapons as a core part of your policy - and what do you get ? Murder.
Fox News, Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh - by stoking fear and hatred you reap what you sow. All we need now is for Sarah Palin to weep some "oh so sincere" tears in front of a Fox News audience.
Adil Ali, Abu Dhabi
Fanatics used as political pawn
Shaukat Qadir's opinion article A governor's death does not put Pakistan's demons to rest (January 11) was an excellent one. He pointed out the uncomfortable realities that while the shooting of the Punjab governor Salman Taseer was a religiously motivated murder, there is real concern that it could have further political motivation as well. Minor operatives such as Malik Qadri and his religious fanaticism have been used as a pawn for deeper political reasons in the past.
He pointed out also that Taseer deserved heightened protective measures given the serious rhetoric, yet not only was the suspicious bodyguard Qadri used, still unanswered are the reasons why the security squad did not act when Qadri fired at Taseer. Normally in such cases the murderer would have been restrained or shot before he could empty his weapon.
The memory of the brave Taseer who spoke out deserves answers, as well as the people of Pakistan. It will be a sad and shameful legacy if the Pakistan Peoples Party does not follow through on the Blasphemy Law repeal. I only hope that this can be a wake up call for the Pakistani government.
Rusty Walker, Dubai
As reported in the Arabic news digest article Pakistan is under fire on many fronts (January 19), a commentary by Dr Abdullah al Madani in the Emirati newspaper Al Ittihad gave the context behind the assassination of the Punjab governor Salmaan Taseer.
There is no doubt that Islam has enemies who would do and say any malicious things that they can come up with. However, the death sentence for any criticism of the Prophet is quite un-Islamic, because the Prophet himself never ordered a death sentence for anyone who attacked or insulted him during his lifetime. He always forgave such people in the hope that they would realise the wrongs of their ways and rectify themselves. When someone is killed that opportunity is taken away from that person.
The blasphemy laws of Pakistan need amendment. The moderate Muslims of Pakistan need to confront the extremists not from a western ideological standpoint, but from the standpoint of the true interpretations of the Quran.
Syed Hasan, Abu Dhabi
Lower internet fees needed
In reference to the business article Regulator loosens grip on Skype ban (January 10, Etisalat and du are losing revenue for international calls due to VoIP technology. Blocking Skype is a greedy decision and even if we won't be able to access it, we can always have free video conversations with our families and friends via msn or others. Etisalat and du should be more worried about their broadband internet rates and prices in general.
I am paying a monthly Dh189 for my Al Shamil service and the same connection is priced at 10 euros in Europe. Not to mention that it already includes 19 per cent VAT. Why is it so overpriced here? If it can cost in Europe the equivalent of Dh49, why do we need to pay Dh189 here for the same type of service?
Etisalat is calling all their customers nowadays to explain to them that they must switch an to e-life package as part of their services upgrade, which will actually cost the customer more. So is it an upgrade or up-selling? It's time to reduce the rates, not to increase them.
Zuzka K, Abu Dhabi